Website Review and Suggestions

**Cory** · 04-29-2004, 09:10 PM

Greetings

Dad and I have been working on his company website for the past couple days, and it's just about finished. A few more bugs and stuff to fix, but pretty much it's finished. I'd really appreciate some comments on the website. It was my first time working with frames, so if you see any errors, page 404's, or anything like that, please let me know.

I'd also like to know what you think about the site overall.

Thanks muchly!

http://www.echelonvjm.com/

**cwdedes** · 04-30-2004, 02:28 PM

I would stay away from frames. There are many reasons why, including legal reasons. If someone with bad sight needs to increase the size of the text or windows it will mess the entire layout up. A professor I had at Rochester Institute of Technology for a class in networking and web design had all the legal mumbo jumbo one day. For a personal site I would say you can get away with it but not for a business site.

**Cory** · 04-30-2004, 03:02 PM

Noted. I hadn't taken that into consideration. I'll pass it on.

**dommyb** · 04-30-2004, 03:33 PM

Nice layout but like he says, lose the frames. Search engines don't like them. The site's reflecting the product well, modern and stylish, so I'd change the font to something more trendy, the font you're using looks a bit dated. For ideas check out sites selling similar products, eg Ikea, they've no doubt shelled out a good few K to have theirs done so you can learn from them, for free. I'd also use a catchy minimalist header, something that identifies with the product but doesn't distract the viewer from the photos.

Dom

www.nordicarts.com

PS I know my site uses frames but I'm working on a new one!

**tonya** · 04-30-2004, 04:09 PM

WEll i think its agreat start well done. The colours are great.

however i agree with previous reviews ditch the frames. search engine web browsers do hate them & thats not good for you trying to get rated in search engines.

Photo's are a little slow to download you could probably downsize some of them without loosing any quality & possibly consider taking them right down but making them clickable to a larger image can be viewed possibly opening in a new window sized to fit the graphics & make them alls imilar sizes that way you keep a nice consistent and professional feel which it already goes a way towards achieving.

If u stick with frames at least loose the borders on them for starters. But consider a template that you can have the header & nav bar in then slot content into. Dreamweaver manages templates v well and if you update the template ie add a link etc it updates all pages that use the template. Very cool.

So good luck & hope business is doing well.

**jammin411** · 05-01-2004, 12:17 AM

First thing, get rid of the frames, and if you feel you must use them, at least take away their borders. I just recommend taking them out. They are not search engine friendly, nor are they easy to work with.

I do like how you have the body of the page though, that is an interesting effect you have. Especially how it fits into your business. Excellent work on that. Now just make the rest of the site fit that.

You need to add more content to your home page for sure. This is very plain right now and could desperately use some more content.

I do like the office pics you have on there. That is an awesome looking office. It certainly looks like your dad does some excellent work.

7 out of 10

**Cory** · 05-01-2004, 12:26 AM

Yeah, the homepage was the little bit we were trying to fix >_< Anyone have suggestions as to what I can put on the front page?

**simon71** · 05-01-2004, 05:45 AM

Hi Cory

The best thing to put on the front page is an abstract of the entire site; give a little information about what you offer, any strap lines about quality your comapny has, the araes in the house you cater for. These can then be turned into text links to the relevent sections. This will make it even easyer to navigate the site.

I dont see the point in repeating what everyone else has said about the frames!

Also try to add a little more to you About Us page ie. who are you (the middle man, a designe company or a fitter). Who is V J Miller the company name or a person? Where are you based? How long have you been trading and why did you start up? things like this can add a personal touch to the web site and will let people know more about you, which will make them feel more comfortable contacting you!

Also change the text colour it is a little hard to read!

Other than that very good first go!!